POLICE inquiries into allegations of trade union vote rigging in the Labour Party could spread to constituencies across the UK, it emerged yesterday.

Police Scotland has been asked to probe potential irregularities in the parliamentary selection process in areas such as Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, Dumfries-shire and Crawley in Sussex.

The Unite union has been accused of funding Labour memberships for dozens of activists in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, to influence the selection of a replacement for MP Eric Joyce, who was expelled after a brawl in a Commons bar.

This would have given new members voting rights to secure the selection of Unite-backed candidate Karie Murphy, who ran ex-Labour election co-ordinator Tom Watson’s office.

Seven people have revealed they were signed up as party members without consent. Ms Murphy has been suspended from the party along with constituency party chairman Stephen Deans.

Mr Watson has also quit as Labour’s vice chairman and general election co-ordinator.

It has sparked a crisis within the Labour Party, which faces accusations it has lost control of its hard left union paymasters.

I know nothing about it. We have a good working relationship

MP Jim Sheridan

The new allegations came amid revelations Unite had tried to oust shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander from his Paisley and Renfrewshire South seat.

Leaked minutes from a Unite governing council meeting appear to show a plan to remove Mr Alexander when a Boundary Commission review threatened to merge his constituency with that of his neighbouring MP Jim Sheridan, who chairs Unite’s parliamentary group.

Henry Smith, Tory MP for Crawley, has asked Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House to probe further possible cases of vote rigging across the country.

Mr Smith said: “My suspicions are that the potential fraud in Falkirk is actually happening in other constituencies up and down the UK.”

Unite insist that there is “nothing questionable” about their actions.

Of any plot to unseat Mr Alexander, Mr Sheridan: “I know nothing about it. We have a good working relationship.”

A Labour spokesman said: “We are determined to ensure that every Labour candidate is selected in an open, transparent and fair way that respects the members and the traditions of this party.”